For Brigade, the clothes are just the beginning. Every stitch, every event, every gathering is rooted in something deeper, a commitment to culture, to legacy, and to the people that make it all possible. On July 26th, 2025, that mission came to life in full force as Brigade welcomed over 1,000 guests to its annual summer BBQ in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
The event wasn’t just a party, it was an affirmation of what Brigade stands for. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Aaron and Sarah Maldonado, the brand has built a reputation on more than just aesthetics. It’s a celebration of identity. Of movement. Of community. And this year’s BBQ proved once again that Brigade doesn’t just say it, they live it.
Culture-Driven, Family-Rooted
Though based in New York City, and deeply influenced by the cream of its cultural crop, from nightlife and streetwear to diasporic rhythm and food, Brigade is looking beyond the five boroughs. It’s a brand with a global soul and an ancestral heartbeat. The latest SS25 collection, worn by many of the day’s performers and guests, once again draws proudly from the Puerto Rican and Dominican roots that define both the co-founders and the community they represent.
“Brigade radiantly revels in our culture,” Aaron said. “It’s sewn into everything we do, from our motifs and collections to the music and food we bring to our events.” That was unmistakable at this year’s BBQ, where the energy was fueled by everything from flame-grilled burgers by Burgerhead to Johnnie Walker coladas, Mamitas ice pops, and Café Colmado iced coffees. Even the photo moment featured portraits of Aaron’s Mama and Papa, underscoring the generational lineage that continues to guide the brand.
No Gatekeeping, Just Good Vibes
Guests started lining up well before noon to score one of just 50 limited-edition tees made exclusively for early arrivals. Over 2,000 RSVPs came in, and true to Brigade’s ethos, the event was completely free. No gatekeeping. No VIP rope. Just open arms, good music, and better company. It’s that radical hospitality that makes Brigade more than a brand, it’s a family you choose.
And this family shows out. DJ sets came from a carefully curated lineup of collaborators and loved ones, including DJ YUNGSTAR (Aaron’s cousin), NIGELTHREETIMES, Odalys, Las Flaquitas, and Alchemy, each spinning high-energy sets while draped in the new collection. As the sun dipped behind the skyline, the crowd was hit with a surprise live set from El Sur, a legendary típico band that transformed Bushwick into a Caribbean street party.
Joy Is the Protest
Beyond the burgers, music, and style, the Brigade BBQ stands as a symbol of joyful resistance. In a time when immigrant communities are criminalized and cultural traditions often commodified, Brigade offers something radical: a space to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. A space where Dominican and Puerto Rican culture isn’t just represented, it’s the main event.
Longtime friend and collaborator Gustavo Barroso summed it up best: “I lit the grill at the very first BBQ. To see it now is just a reflection of who Aaron and Sarah are, people who bring others in, people who make space.” That energy spilled over into the annual domino tournament, where Oumar Kante took home a rhinestone-covered magnum bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a nod to Aaron’s grandfather, who once guarded his own Blue Label bottle like treasure.
Bigger Than the Block
While the BBQ was born in Brooklyn, Brigade’s vision is bigger than the block. The brand’s next chapter is about taking this energy global, telling stories that matter, building spaces that heal, and creating collections that represent communities often left out of fashion’s center stage. But no matter how far they go, Brigade will always be rooted in love, lineage, and the kind of joy that can only come from dancing with your family under the summer sun. Because at Brigade, joy is cultural and the party is always for everyone.
